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A Fifties Bachelor Pad Returns to the Woodshire Stage with a Bow at $550K

If portions of this open-plan Woodshire mod look a bit like a stage set (top), that was likely the idea. The 1957 custom designed pad, by architects Dunaway & Jones, was for Joseph T. Finkelstein, the co-founder and former president of the Alley Theatre (and a former actor in New York). Although the double lot’s landscaped scenery has gone a bit shaggy between acts, the overall swank factor still appears intact. Earlier this week, a re-re-relisting dropped the period property’s asking price down to $549,500.

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The home’s double-wide driveway and carport are accessed from a U-shaped street south of S. Braeswood Blvd., near a utility easement.

Occupying center stage in the 2,240-sq.-ft. interior is the all-in-one living area that’s open to a series of rooms in supporting roles. Access is a step down from a brick passageway located at the hearth and serving the open-riser staircase to the loft:

Brick columns and paneling rise 2 stories to the ceiling, where a grid of exposed decorative beams (visible in the photo at the top of the story) criss-crosses the white ceiling. Not pictured, but apparent in the elevation is the home’s longest wall, which has a pair of double-high plate glass windows flanking the wood-burning fireplace.

The mostly original kitchen includes a bar area (pictured at right) at the transition from living to dining area. It faces a paneled Sub-Zero refrigerator and freezer set, added later. Deeper into the kitchen’s 13-ft.-by-20-ft. footprint, a breakfast bar clings to the peninsula of under-counter and overhead storage.

One side of the peninsula is the food prep area. Pegboard adds texture and freeform storage to the room, currently finished with electric appliances and laminate countertops.

Two sets of sliding doors with wide glass panels open up the dining room, located on the west side of the home:

Sadly, the home’s one and only bedroom missed its curtain call. (There’s a separate loft upstairs.) The declares the home has 2 bedrooms, but doesn’t show either.)

Walkways out back go wide across (above) and deep into (below) the 16,250-sq.-ft. lot:

A vintage pool with patio sits in the southwest corner of the lot:

There’s also a shed near some raised garden beds:

And there’s still room for some groomable lawn . . .

and prunable landscaping:

The home began its 2014 sales push with a July listing at $650,000. Downward price adjustments hit $600,000 in August and $550,000 in September. Snagging the midcentury pad back in 2011, however, when the slant-topped mod first hit the market in another agency’s 2-month listing, could have been had for $429,000.

The word that comes to mind is “groovy”. I would half expect any of the Brady kids to bound down those stairs at any time.

While the cooktop and the oven look original, the SubZeros were added later although they are pre-1993 vintage (after then, the vents were moved to the top of units to both ease service access and reduce dust buildup in the compressor area).

I agree. It’s an ourtage that so much attention is given to the homes of notable Houstonians, designed and built by notable architects, especially when said homes are in original or near original condition. You’d think this was some sort of Houston real estate blog. Ridiculous!

The person saying it is overpriced by 200-250K has not done their research on the lot values. THIS HOUSE IS FOR SALE FOR LOT VALUE ONLY. Do the research, lots in Woodshire now sell for 300K EACH and this is a double lot.